Positions
- Associate Professor
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Department of Neuroscience
ÌÇÐÄvlogÃÛÌÒ of Medicine
Houston, TX, US
Education
- BS from University of Notre Dame
- 05/1997 - Notre Dame, Indiana, United States
- PhD from University of California, Berkeley
- 12/2002 - Berkeley, California, United States
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship at University of Washington
- 06/2007 - Seattle, Washington, United States
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship at ÌÇÐÄvlogÃÛÌÒ of Medicine
- 02/2013 - Houston, Texas, United States
Professional Statement
I am a molecular and cellular neuroscientist with broad interests in neuronal development and injury. I specialize in microscopy and biochemistry using rodent model systems. Currently, my efforts fall into two main categories:
1. I am studying the role of the brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitors (BAIs), an adhesion-GPCR subfamily, on neuronal development. These cell surface receptors contain a number of ligand-binding domains and couple to multiple intracellular signaling pathways. We hypothesize that they serve as molecular signal integrators, thereby coordinating multiple aspects of neuronal development.
2. I also study the effects of radiation on terminally differentiated cells in the brain. Brain cancer is relatively common in children, but recent clinical advances have greatly increased long-term survival and cure rates. Unfortunately, these children experience long-lasting damage to multiple cognitive domains. With our collaborators in the Department of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we have uncovered evidence that the decades-long prevailing hypothesis that radiation-mediated damage is restricted to undifferentiated cells is incorrect and that radiation directly damages terminally differentiated neurons. We are extending these investigations in order to fully understand the nature of radiation-mediated injuries to neurons and to develop strategies for clinical intervention.
I am resident in Kim Tolias' laboratory, and perform all of my research in collaboration with Dr. Tolias. I share her commitment to graduate education and participate primarily through practical teaching.
1. I am studying the role of the brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitors (BAIs), an adhesion-GPCR subfamily, on neuronal development. These cell surface receptors contain a number of ligand-binding domains and couple to multiple intracellular signaling pathways. We hypothesize that they serve as molecular signal integrators, thereby coordinating multiple aspects of neuronal development.
2. I also study the effects of radiation on terminally differentiated cells in the brain. Brain cancer is relatively common in children, but recent clinical advances have greatly increased long-term survival and cure rates. Unfortunately, these children experience long-lasting damage to multiple cognitive domains. With our collaborators in the Department of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, we have uncovered evidence that the decades-long prevailing hypothesis that radiation-mediated damage is restricted to undifferentiated cells is incorrect and that radiation directly damages terminally differentiated neurons. We are extending these investigations in order to fully understand the nature of radiation-mediated injuries to neurons and to develop strategies for clinical intervention.
I am resident in Kim Tolias' laboratory, and perform all of my research in collaboration with Dr. Tolias. I share her commitment to graduate education and participate primarily through practical teaching.
Websites
Selected Publications
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Y-K Tu, JG Duman & KF Tolias. " The adhesion-GPCR BAI1 promotes excitatory synaptogenesis by coordinating bidirectional trans-synaptic signaling. " J. Neuroscience.. 2018 ; 38 : 8388-3406.
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K Um, S Niu, JG Duman, JX Cheng, Y-K Tu, B Schwechter, F Liu, L Hiles, AS Narayanan, RT Ash, S Mulherkar, K Alpadi, SM Smirnakis & KF Tolias. " Dynamic Control of Excitatory Synapse Development by a Rac1 GEF/GAP Regulatory Complex. " Dev. Cell. 2014 ; 29 : 701-715.
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JG Duman, J Dinh, W Zhou, H Cham, VC Mavratsas, M Pacešković, S Mulherkar, SL McGovern, KF Tolias & DR Grosshans. " Memantine prevents acute radiation-induced toxicities at hippocampal excitatory synapses. " Neuro-Oncol. 2018 ; 20 : 655-665.
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JG Duman, CP Tzeng, Y-K Tu, T Munjal, B Schwechter, TS Ho & KF Tolias. " " J. Neurosci.. 2013 Apr 17; 33 (16) : 6964-78.
Pubmed PMID: .
Memberships
- International Society for Neurochemistry
- Member (06/2011)
- Adhesion-GPCR Consortium
- Associate member (03/2017)
Funding
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(PQ9) Directed and unbiased studies of synaptic injuries as sequelae of radiotherapy: mapping, sex-dependence, and reversal
#R01CA219667 - $2,191,796.00 (09/01/2017 - 08/31/2022)
- Grant funding from NIH-NCI
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Molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuronal damage caused by anticancer therapies
#CA283569 - $2,469,120.00 (03/01/2024 - 02/28/2029)
- Grant funding from NIH-NCI
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